Arab Reactions to the Charlie Hebdo Massacre

From MEMRI:

Jihadists online celebrated today’s deadly shooting at the Paris headquarters of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, which has satirized Islam and the Prophet Muhammad in some of its issues.[1] Participants on jihadi forums and social media praised the attackers, saying that the shooting was a legitimate act of revenge against the weekly for insulting Islam and against France for its crimes against Muslims.

Reactions On The Forum Jihadi Media Platform

Members of the pro-ISIS forum Jihadi Media Platform (alplatformmedia.com) lashed out at France. A member called Al-Dia’ Al-Gharib wrote: “France was [once] part of the land of Islam and will return to be the land of Islam, in spite the worshippers of the Cross.” Another, who goes by the name Muhib Al-Salihin, wrote: “France is one of the harshest enemies of Islam and of the Islamic State in particular.” Forum member Abu Al-Qassem Al-Shawqi commented: “[This] is news that quenches the thirst for revenge. By Allah, beloved ones, let us not think lightly of prayers. By Allah, they [the attackers] are soldiers of Allah.” And a member calling himself Abu Bakr Al-Zari’ni remarked: “Congratulations to France and to its people for reaping what their hands sowed. Did these evil cartoonists think that we were a nation that would remain silent in face of those who insult our Prophet…? Did [French President] Hollande and the governments that preceded him think that their interventions and despotism in the lands of the Muslims would not be met with retribution? No, by Allah, from now on the youths of Islam will no longer remain silent, especially since we have a state [ISIS] to mobilize armies if anybody insults the nation of Islam.”

Arabic Reactions On Twitter

Arabic-speaking jihad supporters also celebrated the attack on Twitter, some using the Arabic hashtag “Paris Is Burning.” Many of them shared videos from the scene of the attack, calling the shooters “heroes” and praising them for avenging the honor of the Prophet and of Islam. One, who calls himself Najam (@35njm), wrote: “#Paris Is Burning. Oh Allah slaughter them, Allah attack them. This newspaper insulted the Messenger of Allah and Islam.” ISIS supporter Hamel Al-Liwa’ (@blue964) tweeted: “Fear prevails among the newspapers and journalists who hate Islam. There are demands for military protection of the paper headquarters. #Paris is turning into a military barracks.” Another ISIS supporter, Al-Khilafa Hiya Al-Hal [“the Caliphate is the solution”] (@death4x), shared a video of the attack and commented: “France turned the lands of the Muslims into battlefields, and now the Muslims have turned Paris into a battlefield. Allah akbar.”

French Reactions On Twitter

The following are some reactions by French-speaking jihadists on Twitter. ISIS supporter Abou Hafs (@Ansar_Al_Ouma) tweeted: “Oh Allah, the honor of your prophet has been cleansed.” Another, Al Furat Wadijlah (@AlFuratWadijlah), commented on the character of the attack: “An RPG7 with Kalashnikovs, it’s a well prepared assault.” He added: “That dog Charb [Charlie Hebdo editor-in-chief and cartoonist Stéphane Charbonnier, who is one of those killed in the attack] was supposed to publish this drawing on the first page this week:”  

The caption of the cartoon says “Still no terror attacks in France.” The jihadist comments: “Wait! We have until the end of January to give [you] our [new year’s] greetings.”

French ISIS fighter Abu-Talhal (@Abu-Talhal ) expressed regret that the shooters did not have cameras mounted on their guns: “They were lone wolves [smiley] haha.  A go-pro ‘camera’ on their AK47s, walking to Charlie Hebdo, that would be nice.” Jihad supporter Ibn Mustafa (@Ibn_mustafa_51), like many others who commented, reminded his readers that the shari’a punishment for insulting Allah and the Prophet is death: “This is the status and punishment in Islam for those who insult Allah and his messenger.” ISIS supporter Kheyrad dine (@Kheyradine) warned against the reaction of the French authorities: “There will certainly be many arrests of pro-ISIS brothers, [so] arm yourselves and don’t turn your backs. Be soldiers of Allah.” He added a threat to the French president: “Die in your rage… Haha, the next one is the president, Inshallah… Brothers, fire up the volcanoes of Jihad, go forth to paradise that is as wide as the heavens and the earth. Allah’s victory is close! The hearts of the infidels are trembling, Allah be praised! As for the news about the brothers [who carried out the attack], may Allah grant them the highest of ranks! Pray for them!”

English Tweets

Various jihadists also tweeted in English. The British Umm Hussain Britaniyya (@UmmHussain107), who resides in Syria and is married to an ISIS fighter, wrote: “Who printed cartoons of our Prophet and our Caliph Ibrahim, you filthy kuffs [infidels].” Australian ISIS fighter Abdul Ali (@abdul_ali_) wrote: “Lions of Islam roaring in France”

A Dutch pro-ISIS twitter page called “Fighting Journalist” (@FightingJmedia) featured the message: “Takbeer!!!… Vive Le France!!! You can insult the prophet and pay the price 20 years later!”

It should be mentioned that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) put Charlie Hebdo editor and cartoonist Stéphane Charbonnier on a “most wanted” poster published its English-language magazine  Inspire  in March 2013.